The College Council has been engaged in a thoughtful and collaborative effort to strengthen our participatory governance. This work has focused on enhancing transparency, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and building a structure that better supports inclusive, informed decision-making across the District.  

As part of this effort, we reviewed and clarified the charges of more than 40 committees, resulting in a new, streamlined participatory governance structure. These refinements aim to ensure each committee has a clear purpose, appropriate scope, and alignment with institutional goals. 

We’re pleased to share the final recommended governance framework, which has been reviewed by College Council and will be presented for recommendation and approval at the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on June 10, 2025. This recommendation reflects the culmination of significant work and meaningful collaboration across all constituency groups.  

Alongside the structural review, we developed a Participatory Governance Manual that outlines the roles of each constituency group and explains how committees support the District’s mission and values. The manual introduces new resources, including committee chair training, a formal process for recognizing Employee Affinity Groups, and a biennial self-assessment for committees. These tools will launch in Fall 2025 and are intended to keep our participatory governance clear, inclusive, and effective.

To support the Board’s upcoming review and decision, all committee appointments are paused until early fall 2025. Appointment calls will be issued by each constituent group leadership in August, with confirmations finalized in September. Participatory governance committees will begin meeting in October to allow time for onboarding and alignment. Over the summer, the administration will continue laying the groundwork for this transition with College Council set to reconvene at the start of the fall semester.